158 PEACTICE OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



ment. There is a well-marked line or groove produced by the 

 muscles along the abdomen. 



The double, or the two movements in the expiratory act, is not 

 pathognomonic of heaves, as it may be seen in cases of pleurisy as 

 well as in a rupture of the diaphragm and hernia of the intestines 

 preceding death. 



Inspiration is different; the ribs are elevated more; they seem 

 to turn on their axis ; the posterior border of the ribs turns upward 

 and outward; at the end of expiration there is a jump of the 

 abdominal cavity in some cases; it is a peculiar jerky movement, 

 a falling back of the intestines; this movement may be so severe 

 as to cause a movement of the animal; if the animal be hitched to 

 a cart, the cart moves. 



In severe cases there is a dilatation of the nostrils, which keep 

 open and do not recede; on a frosty day the column of air is di- 

 vided, or in the summer-time by placing the hand to the nostril 

 you can feel the interrupted volume. 



In other cases there is a well-marked play of the anus; the 

 anus goes back and forward; this is not pathognomonic, as it is 

 also seen in pleurisy. 



There is also the symptom of breaking wind, a discharge of 

 flatus from the intestines; in some cases, when the animal coughs, 

 it is a dry and abortive cough; as a rule, it is single, dry, smoth- 

 ered, and abortive. 



When eating dusty food, as hay and the like, they often have 

 a fit of coughing. If associated with chronic bronchitis, a dis- 

 charge is often present, which is whitish in color. 



On percussion, we have extra resonance or hyper-resonance; 

 in some cases we cannot percuss to any advantage in this disease, 

 as the edges of the lungs are affected. 



On auscultation, we find the inspiration very short ; the expira- 

 tion is of longer duration and interrupted, and, on listening, we 

 hear undetermined sounds ; as a rule, we hear dry or moist rales, 

 and varying according to whether bronchitis is present or not. 



How is the disease diagnosed? 



It ought to be easily made out, as the disease is non-febrile; 

 the cough, which is single, dry, and abortive; the to-and-fro move- 

 ment of the anus, and the breaking of wind. 



On inspiration, we find the chest somewhat enlarged, while 

 the expiratory act is double. 



